As delivered by Mr. Per EJ Carlson, Deputy Director, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, at the Opening Session of the 2005 Annual Security Review Conference
Mr Chairman,
Five years ago the UN Security Council adopted its resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. The Security Council urged member states to ensure increased representation of women at all decision-making levels in national, regional and international institutions and mechanisms for the prevention, management and resolution of conflict.
One year ago, almost on the day, at this very Review Conference, the Swedish delegation called upon the OSCE to take its responsibility in this field. In particular we suggested that the OSCE could prove an arena for a first exchange of practical experiences.
Half a year ago, at the Sofia Ministerial the OSCE Gender Action Plan was unanimously adopted by participating States as a set of solemn norms and as a tool to steer the organization into the future, potentially putting the OSCE as a regional organization on the forefront in terms of gender equality and gender mainstreaming.
The Action Plan specifically points to the UNSCR 1325, urging participating States as well as the OSCE itself to implement the commitments that we have taken upon ourselves.
In this spirit – in order to follow up to our own promises – the Swedish delegation together with the Slovenian Chairmanship yesterday organized an experts seminar on the role of women in conflict prevention and crisis management yesterday, here in the Hofburg.
The purpose was precisely to provide a platform for an exchange of experiences and to look for the way ahead. We believe proved itself useful.
We got plenty of concrete evidence that crisis management operations, based on a sound gender policy, radically increases the quality of their work.
We got plenty of concrete evidence that much remains to be done in this field.
And we got plenty of concrete evidence that the challenge is upon all of us,
- upon the participating States when they send out seconded or contracted personel,
- upon the Chairman in Office, the Secretary General – when they appoint Heads of Missions, special representatives…
- upon the Heads of Missions, when they set up their staff
However important it is to increase women’s participation in numbers our challenge in this field is also about a mindset. That’s where this somewhat artificial concept gender mainstreaming comes in.
A gender perspective in conflict prevention and crisis management operations - and when I say “conflict prevention and crisis management” I mean this in the fullest sense of the concept - should be as natural and as self evident as having standards in terms of conduct, rules of engagement or a sound policy of administration.
It is the sincere belief of this delegation that no modern organization can afford not to have such a perspective.
The OSCE’s Gender Action Plan is an excellent basis to work from. In particular it gives us clear guidance on how to implement the UNSCR 1325.
It is imperative however, that this plan of ours remains kicking and alive. Not a dead paper in a chest of drawers. It is, as we diplomats so aften say, the deed not the words that count…
The Swedish Delegation therefore suggests the work is started as soon as possible on a specific decision by our Ministers to proactively follow up the plan, including concrete suggestions on how this should be done.
To this effect the Swedish Delegation intends to introduce a draft decision to participating States for their consideration. It could be negotiated in the working group on gender issues led by Ambassador Moran with a view for adoption at the Ljubljana Ministerial.
I thank you for your attention.